(c) 2007 Illustration by F. Martin

 


Franklin Cty Maine


Blue Ridge Mountains Franklin Cty Maine


Blue Ridge Mountains Franklin Cty Maine


Smalls Falls Maine


Smalls Falls Maine


Bigalow Mountain Maine

 


Temple Maine Franklin Cty

 


SHALOM EVERYONE!
Followers of Yah on Hilltop Mountain View, Maine

 


On Yahushua the solid rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand! (1Corinthians 1:30)


How good it is to dwell with Brothers.

 


The Tent is Pitched.

 


Shalom


Teamwork

 


Canoeing at Rangeley Maine

 

 

Feast of
Sukkoth (Booths)

Succoth is Strong's #5521 and means the following: "a hut or lair: - booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent"
There are many different ways believers keep the Feast of Booths. Some families, groups, or individuals will build temporary sukkoth/succoths, while others pitch tents, rent cottages, motels or even hotels.

Whether it be a sukkoth or a tent that is being used for the feast, it is not uncommon for one to use their yard or make reservations at a camp ground.

I've learned that some believers will gather daily for the entire Feast, yet others only gather on the 1st and 8th days (High Sabbaths). 

Obviously, there are many different ways believers keep the Feast of Booths. We would like to share how we observed this wonderful feast.

Last year, state lots along with the state counties were cast. Yahuah led us to the beautiful state of Maine in Franklin County.

Since no one in the group had been to Maine, we all were very excited. To be expected, many of us encountered last minute trials. For instance, one young girl broke her big toe..ouch!

Brother Joseph and Brother Albert stayed up the whole night fixing brake lights. But no trial was going to hold us back!

With much anticipation, we pulled out of Ohio around 5:00 a.m. Many of us thought by evening we would be in Maine. How wrong we were. The trip itself turned into a test of endurance.The 12 hour drive turned into a 22 hour journey.

We had no idea where in Franklin County Yahuah would have us pitch our tents. We trusted in HIM. He led us to the awesome Blue Ridge Mountains!

Hallelu-YAH!

We had a great time fellowshipping, studing Yahuah's word, singing and being joyful always (in all ways possible). How wonderful it was to live with brothers and sisters in Mashiach for ten days. This is a small glimspe of what awaits believers. We thank Yah for brother Mark for sharing lots of knowledge with us all.

We also did some sight seeing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking and even keeping are eyes open for moose. We were very happy when we spotted ONE!

Why should believers keep the Feast of Booths?

Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), along with Yahuah's other Feasts (Appointed Times) is a forshadowing of things to come. For instance, the children of Yisra'el were in slavery in Mitsrayim (Egypt) for 400 years. We know Yahuah delivered the children of Yisra'el with an outstretched arm. Mitsrayim was struck with plagues.The very last plague would be far worse than any of the others. Yahuah instructed Moshe (Moses) to tell the children of Yisra'el to take a perfect lamb on the 10th day. On the 14th day they were to kill the lamb between the evenings (Exodus 12: 3-6).The blood of the perfect lamb was to be put on the doorpost of each home and they were to eat the lamb in haste. 

Exodus 12:12-13," And I shall pass through the land of Mitsrayim on that night, and shall smite all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, both man and beast. And on all the mighty ones of Mitsrayim I shall execute judgement. I am YHWH (HWHY). "And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let the plague not come on you to destroy you when I smite the land of Mitsrayim"

We learn the following in John 1:29, "On the next day Yohanan saw Yahushua coming toward him, and said, "See, the Lamb of Elohim Who takes away the sin of the world!" The first Passover was a forshadowing of the Lamb of Yah. My beloved friends, we need the blood of the Passover Lamb, Yahushua poured over the doorpost of our beings.When judgement day comes and Yahuah sees the blood of HIS Lamb over us, then the plague shall passover us! Praise be to Yah! At those words my spirit leaps for JOY!

When the children of Yisra'el left Mitsrayim, do you know the first place they went?

Exodus 12:37 "And the Children of Yisra'el set out from Ra'meses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot besides little ones."

#5521 Succoth, a hut or lair: - booth,  cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent

Isn't that interesting? They went to the city of Sukkoth or Booths. Then they headed to the edge of the wilderness (Exodus 13:30). They stayed there until Yahushua took them to the promised land. This will happen again. Come with me for a moment. Within the Scriptures, many verses have parallel meanings. On the surface, we can clearly see how a verse pertains to the physical. Whereas, to find the deeper spiritual meaning, one will have to search and study for it. Having eyes to see.To further explain, turn with me to Revelation 18:4, "And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, "Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

We need to separate ourselves from this world. We can be in the world but not of the world. The time is coming when the wrath of Yah will be poured out on all flesh. If we obey His voice, follow Him wherever He takes us, then we will not be harmed physically by His wrath. None of the plagues harmed the children of Yisra'el, nor their cattle.
Exo 9:4-6, "And YHWH shall separate between the livestock of Yisra'ĕl and the livestock of Mitsrayim, and let no matter die of all that belongs to the children of Yisra'ĕl." And YHWH set an appointed time, saying, "Tomorrow YHWH is going to do this word in the land." And YHWH did this word on the next day, and all the livestock of Mitsrayim died, but of the livestock of the children of Yisra'ĕl, not one died.

Back to Revelation 18:4. In prophetic scriptures 'her' represents a church. Spiritually and physically we need to come out of Babylon (Religious Confusion), the Great Whore and all false Religions. We must worship Yahuah in spirit and in truth. The path is narrow and very few find it. If you find it, may I suggest you hang on to the truth. Do not let ha shatan or the cares of this world steal it. As soon as the seed is sown, satan is ready (working through others) to rob you of it!  

We also keep the Feast of Booths because we are commanded to do so.

Lev 23:42-43 "Dwell in booths for seven days; all who are native Yisra'ĕlites dwell in booths, so that your generations know that I made the children of Yisra'ĕl dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim. I am YHWH (HWHY) your Elohim. "

When we observe the Feast of Booths we are physically showing that we are sojourners in this world, not being conformed to this world (Romans 12:2) nor the things in it. We need to trust in Yahuah, that He will provide a place for us to pitch our tents (Deut 1:32-33).

Yahushua talked about a horrible time that is yet to come for His followers. This time is known as the 'Great Distress' (Jacob's Trouble). We know the remnant are among the gentiles [nations] (Micah 5:7-8). I believe this remnant will hear the warning call spoken in Revelation (18:4). Prior to and right on the onsought of the Great Distress, believers will either be forced from society or freely leave (Revelation 12:14). Some believe this to be another great Exodus.This may happen because  we have been told the children of Yisra'el will dwell in tents again.
Hosea 12:9, "But I am YHWH (HWHY) your Elohim since the land of Mitsrayim, again I shall make you dwell in tents as in the days of the appointed time (festival)."

Keeping this Feast now, could help prepare us for the Great Distress. We must let Yahuah guide us. We do not want to be a stiff-necked people like they were. If we endure to the end, Yahushua Ha'Mashiach will lead us into the promise land. 

Did you know that, "The Feast of Booths" will be kept in the next world to come:

Zec 14:16-18, "And it shall be that all who are left from all the gentiles [nations] which came up against Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, YHWH (HWHY) of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths. And it shall be, that if anyone of the clans of the earth does not come up to Yerushalayim to bow himself to the Sovereign, YHWH (HWHY) of hosts, on them there is to be no rain. And if the clan of Mitsrayim does not come up and enter in, then there is no rain. On them is the plague with which YHWH (HWHY) plagues the gentiles [nations] who do not come up to observe the Festival of Booths."

Now that we have looked at the physical part of the feast, let's look at some of the Spiritual parts.

John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth."

This verse is talking about the Mashiach, Yahushua. The tent that He pitched was a physical body. 

Our bodies are also temporary dwelling places. By keeping the Feast of Booths, spiritually we are acknowledging that we are sojourners in this earth. Yahushua said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Spiritually, we have been called out and delivered out of Mitsrayim. We acknowledge the Passover Lamb. Right now we are living in the wilderness dwelling in temporary homes. This is the time when believers are being deprogrammed from the inherited lies. We are learning how to be obedient children. We are being tested and tried. We watch for Yahuah to lead us by fire at night and a cloud by day. We do this by listening to His voice. We especially wait for the coming of Yahushua Who will lead us into the promise land. Let us not be as some of them were, grumblers, having no faith, wanting to go back to Mitsrayim, back to the house of bondage! Let us be strong and courageous.

1 Corinthians, 15:50-55; " Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohim; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

The End